Nn's Sand In Demand

Huntington Beach: Crowded, Chaotic, Maybe Dangerous

NEWPORT NEWS — Patti Simons of Suffolk scanned the sea of well-oiled bodies. Few sizable patches of sand were left from which she and her 14-year-old niece, Lori Murphy, could choose.

They finally claimed a spot on the inland fringe, plunking down their gear to become one with the expanse of flesh - but still within range of errant volleyballs from the game at a nearby net.

Virginia Beach on a holiday weekend?

Try Newport News' own Huntington Beach - on a weekday.

The swatch of sand on the James River has always been a popular family summer spot, but its value apparently has skyrocketed among swimmers, boaters and sun worshipers.

``In the first couple of years after they opened this, I would drive across the bridge, and I saw hardly anybody out here,'' Simons said.

Huntington Beach, which reopened in 1990 after major renovations, even draws people from Virginia Beach: Stephanie Cox came Tuesday because her 3+-year-old daughter, Tharis, ``had a hard time'' with the ocean's waves.

Lifeguard Nicole Scott kept her eyes on the water even during a quick break to douse herself under the shower.

``I can't believe how crowded these weekends are here now,'' she said.

There is little delight in the lifeguard's voice. More people in the water, the burgeoning number of jet skis buzzing around and a busy boat ramp increase the chance for dangerous mishaps involving groups competing to enjoy the same space.

There have been enough close calls for Newport News parks officials to this week write up rules for jet skiers ( see accompanying box) . No longer will they be allowed to zip through the dredged boat channel to jump the wakes left by boats, said Michael Poplawski of the city Department of Parks and Recreation. That activity - and jet skiers venturing into the marked-off swimming area - have drawn the most complaints from people using the park, Poplawski said.

``People are taking liberties to do what they think is fun,'' he said. ``That was OK with just one or two jet skiers out there, but there's so many now,'' with as many as two dozen in the water at a time.

He added that beginning this weekend, a park ranger will be stationed on a skiff in the channel that leads to the boat ramp to make sure that swimmers and jet skiers stay away from each other.

But jet skiers aren't the only problem; swimmers regularly disregard the swimming-area limits, Scott said, adding that she must use her whistle to call in swimmers from the outer limits, as well as from the boat channel itself.

``Moms bring their little 2-year-olds out here and then turn the other way toward the sun,'' she said.

Scott said she calls swimmers back well before they reach that outer limit, explaining that it would take too long for one of the two lifeguards on duty to reach a swimmer there. Two park rangers also patrol the beach on weekends.

Two weeks ago, a 13-year-old Carrollton girl swam beyond the swimming-area markers and began struggling in the water. Timeka Harden was pulled to safety by boaters and taken to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk for treatment. She was sent home two days later, hospital officials said.

After another near-drowning Tuesday that involved a girl about 5 years old, a police officer with the Newport News Police Marine Patrol said the park's swimming area needed to be more clearly defined, and that jet skiers should be restricted to a separate area, away from swimmers. In the incident Tuesday, the girl had drifted beyond the swimming area into water that was over her head. The officer dived in and rescued the girl.

Overall, the numbers of visitors to the park remained steady over last year, said Parks Superintendent Michael Nealer. But the census - counting the number of vehicles driving into the park - doesn't necessarily reflect all the beachgoers, Nealer said.

Crowds are likely to thin out rapidly later this month, when jellyfish make their annual appearance in local waters, Poplawski said.

But the increase in bodies is clear to Jon Gamache, chief park ranger for city. ``The numbers are definitely up, and they're up dramatically,'' Gamache said. ``Who would have thought that this little place would be that successful?''

The answer may be lots of city residents, who have long grumbled about the lack of public waterfront areas in a city bounded by water along its length.

Recent improvements to Huntington Beach also have contributed to heavier use, city officials said. A 7-foot-deep channel was dredged last winter to improve access for boaters. And 60 spaces were added to the parking lot recently. ``That was connected with the new tennis facility, but I think you're going to see a lot going to be utilized for boat parking,'' said John Blake, a civil engineer for the city. But even with the new space, demand still has outstripped capacity on recent weekends; park managers were forced to park boat trailers on the grass.

Those improvements, however, don't constitute a ``monster'' created by the city and probably can't account for the popularity of Huntington Beach, Blake said.

``I think the monster was already there and we just prettied it up.'' he said.